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Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for Human Rights, Kerry McCarthy, writes for PinkNews how on IDAHOT much of the world continues to be a difficult place for LGBT people.

As we mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia today, it is a day to celebrate gender and sexual diversity, to underline the fundamental principles of equality and to stand united against prejudice and discrimination.

May 17th is significant because it marks the anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s decision in 1990 to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. To many of us, it will seem shocking that such a decision was made so recently but in many countries today, while homosexuality may not be classed as a mental disorder, it is very much considered to be a crime.

Same-sex relationships are still illegal in 77 countries. In some of these, homosexuality is punishable by death; in 10 countries, people lose their lives simply for being themselves. Such laws foster a climate where attacks on LGBTI people are commonplace, and tolerated. Even in countries such as the UK, where progress towards equality is being made – less than two months ago we celebrated the first same-sex marriages – there are battles still to be won.

So International Day Against Homophobia must be a day to challenge the homophobia that still exists and to challenge the discriminatory policies championed by some governments – policies that violate international standards on human rights and spread prejudice and fear through their countries.

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has just published its report, “From Torment to Tyranny”, documenting 162 reported incidents of persecution between 20th December 2013 and 1st May this year. This represents a 750% and 1900% increase on previous years but, as SMUG warns, it is likely to only be the tip of the iceberg.

This, though, is not the first time that this government has been more reticent to challenge human rights abuses in countries where they see commercial opportunities.

By contrast, high-profile people like Stephen Fry have supported a boycott of the hotel chain owned by the Sultan of Brunei. I have raised the Brunei case in Parliament, and will continue to call on the Foreign Office and the Prime Minister to go further in supporting LGBTI rights, in challenging regressive legislation that threaten the lives and liberty of LGBTI people, and in pressing for action amongst the Commonwealth, where nearly 80% of member states criminalise homosexuality.

As Labour leader Ed Miliband wrote for PinkNews today, the fight for equality is far from won. But today is a day to show that we stand united. A day for solidarity with LGBTI activists and human rights defenders who have to fight homophobia every day. They are counting on us for support. We cannot let them down.

PinkNews covers religion, politics, entertainment, finance, and community news for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the UK and worldwide. Founded to produce broadsheet quality journalism for the LGBT community, we cover politics to theology in an intelligent manner.